For over two decades, Ane Brun has quietly operated as one of Scandinavia’s most formidable musical visionaries. As an artist, producer, and founder of her own label, the acclaimed Norwegian singer-songwriter has consistently carved out an enviable path of total artistic independence.
Classic electronic pop enthusiasts may have first heard of Ane Brun via her 2012 collaboration with Vince Clarke on his cover of ‘Fly On The Windscreen’ for novelist Tonya Hurley’s literary trilogy ‘The Blessed’ that acted as the ‘Twilight’ Generation’s perfect introduction to DEPECHE MODE.
Six years on from her last collection of newly written material, ‘After the Great Storm’, Ane Brun returns with ‘I Thought We Were The Same’. It’s a bold, emotionally fearless new chapter that expands her sonic palette further into a crystal-clear electronic-pop landscape without losing an ounce of her signature nerve.
Written across three life-changing years, ‘I Thought We Were The Same’ tackles the fragile architecture of trust itself: how it shapes us, how easily it fractures, and how, despite betrayal, the human spirit continues to choose connection. Rather than retreating into acoustic melancholia, Brun has consciously embraced sharper choruses, distinct hooks, and vibrant electronic textures. The result is a sweeping 11 track collection that balances intimate vulnerability with dynamic synthy urgency.
The album opens with ‘Hold Me’, a collaboration with Norwegian electronic producer ARY; swathed in icy Nordic restraint, its haunting pulse builds into a chilling exploration of two lovers suspended in emotional limbo. The momentum shifts up a gear on ‘Eat The Fruit’, where Brun teams up with fellow Norwegians RÖYKSOPP. Driven by a robust tempo and atmospheric dance-friendly tension, it yields exactly the kind of sophisticated synth-pop magic one would expect from such an elite pairing.
The rhythms trap and shuffle on ‘Hand In The Fire’, where Brun’s forlorn introspection is punctuated by sudden bursts of piercing synthesizers. The hypnotic arpeggios of ‘How Can I Hold Your Hand’ then sweep in, featuring Björk collaborator Emilie Nicolas in a feverish R ‘n’ B-tinged vocal spar that pushes out into majestic Eastern plains.
Photo by Lamia Karić
A gentler moment arrives with ‘Lean Into The Wind’, a subtle synth-and-string waltz that beautifully honours its title, before ‘Two In This Story’ dips briefly into classic pop ballad territory. Far more compelling is the quiet power of ‘Reevaluating You’, a sparse ivory-laden standout reminiscent of Paul Buchanan’s solo masterpiece ‘Mid Air’, concluding with a profound monologue on anxiety and betrayal.
The lower end shakes on ‘Can We Go Back’, skipping over emotional trauma via a deep cavern of sub-bass and lush orchestration. The quirky ‘Shock Treatment’ takes a cheeky stylistic nod toward Lou Reed’s ‘Walk On The Wild Side’, while the reflective ‘Certain Moments’ shines as an understated highlight, driven by a magnificent chorus and sweeping orchestral build. Finally, the nocturnal ‘In These Waters’ brings the journey to a close; with its minimalist drum machine accompaniment and twilight mood, it echoes the cinematic stillness of THE BLUE NILE, anchored entirely by Brun’s unmistakable, haunting vocal.
With ‘I Thought We Were The Same’, Ane Brun proves that moving toward direct pop hooks doesn’t mean sacrificing soul. It is a sophisticated synthpop triumph from a master of her craft.
‘I Thought We Were The Same’ is released by BMG on 6th November 2026
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Text by Chi Ming Lai
3rd November 2026
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